Watch Out for Hidden Limits on People and Power

One often-overlooked section of your office lease is the part that sets limits on how many people you can have in the space—or how much electricity you can use. These “consumption limits” give the landlord the right to charge you extra if your usage exceeds what's considered standard (though that “standard” isn’t always clearly defined).

Sometimes the lease includes an explicit headcount cap—like no more than 45 people in 10,000 square feet. Other times, it sets limits on electrical use (in watts or voltage), which can be harder to interpret.

Issues can arise if your planned occupancy already exceeds the lease’s limits from day one. As a rule of thumb, office leases should allow at least one person per 150 square feet. That’s considered high-density, but it’s still a common layout.

Electrical thresholds are more technical. To know whether your setup is within limits, you’ll likely need input from your IT team or vendors, who can help assess your equipment’s power demands.

Bottom line: Don’t gloss over this section. Make sure you understand what’s allowed—and what could trigger extra charges.